(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-10-15 16:03

UDINE, Italy - Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands broke the world women's half-marathon record on Sunday when she clocked one hour six minutes 25 seconds in a largely solo run at the world road running championships.

Lornah Kiplagat, of the Netherlands, shows her medal after setting a half-marathon world record at the World road running championships, in Udine, Italy, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007. Kiplagat timed 1 hour, 6 minutes, 25 seconds on the 21.097-kilometer (13.11-mile) course, slicing 19 seconds off the previous record set by Elana Meyer in Tokyo eight years ago. [Agencies]

The defending champion shattered the previous mark of 1:06:44 set by South African Elana Meyer in 1999.

"Everything just went perfect today," Kiplagat told reporters. "With four kilometres left, I realised that the record was possible."

The Kenyan-born Dutchwoman also broke her own world record for 20 kms. Her time of 1:02:57 was 24 seconds faster than her mark set at last year's inaugural championships in Debrecen, Hungary.

The victory netted Kiplagat $80,000 with $30,000 for the victory along with a $50,000 record bonus.

"I heard from people along the course that I was on (record) pace so I kept on pushing," said Kiplagat, who also won the world cross country title in Mombasa, Kenya, last March.

"With two kms to go, I was watching the time on the lead car and at that point I knew that I could do it. I didn't panic and just kept the same pace."

Kiplagat, 33, who has represented the Netherlands since 2003, missed the world athletics championships in Osaka in August with a calf injury.

"I was well rested and I was so confident, because after missing Osaka I really wanted to do well in this one," she said.

Kiplagat has yet to decide whether she will defend her cross country title next year in Edinburgh.

"Right now I want to absorb the victory and only then think about the future," she said. "Now is the time for celebrating."

Kenyans Mary Keitany and Pamela Chepchumba finished second and third, clocking 1:06:48 and 1:08:06 respectively. Keitany's time was a national record.

The first seven finishers dipped under 1:09, with 12 of the top 15 recording personal bests.

Kicking from a tight four-man pack in the 57th minute, Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea successfully defended his title in the men's race.

The world cross country champion covered the distance in 58:59, a national and championship record, three seconds ahead of Kenyan Patrick Makau Musyoki.